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Trivia: Musical Terms

Subject : trivia
Instructions:
  • Answer 50 questions in 15 minutes.
  • If you are not ready to take this test, you can study here.
  • Match each statement with the correct term.
  • Don't refresh. All questions and answers are randomly picked and ordered every time you load a test.

This is a study tool. The 3 wrong answers for each question are randomly chosen from answers to other questions. So, you might find at times the answers obvious, but you will see it re-enforces your understanding as you take the test each time.
1. The first violin in an orchestra.






2. 3 or 4 notes played simultaneously in harmony.






3. Tones used to embellish the principal melodic tone.






4. A short or brief sonata.






5. Elaborate polyphonic composition of the Boroque and Renaissance periods.






6. A rhythmic succession of musical tones - a melody for instruments and voices.






7. Suite of Baroque dances.






8. Made up of five horizontal parallel lines and the spaces between them on which musical notation is written.






9. Curved line connecting notes to be sung or played as a phrase.






10. A chord comprised of three whole tones resulting in an augmented fourth or diminished fifth.






11. A composition written for three voices and instruments performed by three people






12. Music written to be sung or played in unison.






13. A musical composition written solely to improve technique. Often performed for artistic interest.






14. A musical theme given to a particular idea or main character of an opera.






15. Pertaining to the loudness or softness of a musical composition. Also the symbols in sheet music indicating volume.






16. The distance in pitch between two notes.






17. An instruction in sheet music to play softly. Abbreviated by a 'p'.






18. String instruments that are picked instead of bowed.






19. Three note chords consisting of a root - third - and fifth.






20. Word to indicate that the movement or entire composition is to be played smoothly.






21. First developed in the 8th century - methods of writing music.






22. The voice between soprano and alto. Also - in sheet music - a direction for the tempo to be played at medium speed.






23. A set of six musicians who perform a composition written for six parts.






24. Lowest female singing voice.






25. Pleasing combination of two or three tones played together in the background while a melody is being played. Harmony also refers to the study of chord progressions.






26. In sheet music - an instruction to repeat the beginning of the piece before stopping on the final chord.






27. A book of text containing the words of an opera.






28. A repeating phrase that is played at the end of each verse in the song.






29. One who directs a group of performers. The conductor indicates the tempo - phrasing - dynamics - and style by gestures and facial expressions.






30. A melodic or - sometimes a harmonic idea presented in a musical form.






31. Suite of Baroque dances.






32. Singing in unison - texts in a free rhythm. Similar to the rhythm of speech.






33. To hold a tone or rest held beyond the written value at the discretion of the performer.






34. Harsh - discordant - and lack of harmony. Also a chord that sounds incomplete until it resolves itself on a harmonious chord.






35. Repetition of a single tone.






36. The unit of measure where the beats on the lines of the staff are divided up into two - three - four beats to a measure.






37. A curve over notes to indicate that a phrase is to be played legato.






38. A song of praise and glorification. Most often to honor God.






39. A chord progression that seems to lead to resolving itself on the final chord; but does not.






40. In sheet music - an instruction to repeat the beginning of the piece before stopping on the final chord.






41. Vocal composition written for three or more solo parts - usually without instrumental accompaniment.






42. A curve over notes to indicate that a phrase is to be played legato.






43. A style of male singing where by partial use of the vocal chords - the voice is able to reach the pitch of a female.






44. A form of writing for vocals that is close to the manner of speech and is rhythmically free.






45. The interval between two notes. Three whole tones and one semitone make up the distance between the two notes.






46. A set of five musicians who perform a composition written for five parts.






47. Tone color - quality of sound that distinguishes one verse or instrument to another. It is determined by the harmonies of sound.






48. Two or more voices or instruments playing the same note simultaneously.






49. Arranging a piece of music for an orchestra. Also - the study of music.






50. A solo concert with or without accompaniment.